Ballot-counting machine



Sept. '2 1924.

J. 5. BAKER BALLOT COUNTING MACHINE 1.920 l1 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 2, 1924.

J. s. BAKER BALLOT COUNTING MACHINE I r E.

Sept. 2, 1924.

J. S. BAKER BALLOT COUNTING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 10 1920 attozncp Sept. 2, 1924. 1,507,548

J. s. BAKER BALLOT COUNTING MACHINE Filed NOV. 10 1920 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 1 1% 5. 1

Q i 176' 1 4i 5 W @oos'oo Sept. 2 1924.

J. s. BAKER BALLOT COUNTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10. 1920 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 Sept. 2, 1924. 1,507,548

J. S. BAKER BALLOT COUNTING MACHINE Filed Nov 10. 1920 11 Sheetshaek 25 8 if S p gnwm S ;ZVL%%MW Sept. 2, 1924.

J. s. BAKER BALLOT COUNTING MACHINE Filed New 10 1920 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 attorney 9 Sept. 2, 1924.

J. S. BAKER BALLOT COUNTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10 1920 1], Sheets-Sheet 1O Q Q m 93 Q Sept. 2, 1924.

J. S. BAKER BALLOT COUNTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10. 1920 ll Sheets-Sheet 11 K .15.

Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. BAKER, OF LOS-ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. I

BALLOT-COUNTING MACHINE.

- Application filed November 10, 1920. Serial No. 423,117.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jenn S. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ballot- Counting Machines; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is a novel machine for registering and counting various items designated on properly prepared cards, such as ballots, which cards are prepared separately. from the machine and then passed therethrough, the different items to beregistered being punched onthe cards before they are placed in the machines, and only these items punched on the cards being registered.

The machine is particularly designed for registering and counting ballots of the type shown and described in my Letters Patent "No. 1,350,914, dated August 24, 1920, used in voting for State and U. S. Government officials in general elections. The principal objects are, to expedite the counting of such ballots, after the polls close,'by mechanical means, eliminating hand counting and giving absolute accuracy, without changing the present system of voting. Thespecific ob- Jects of the present invention are to provide a machine wherein such patented bal-- lots canbe placed and automatically fed through the machine and votes for individual candidates registered' and wherein .if I

the voter votes special allot by writin on the ballot. the name offa person instea 40 printed on the ballot, such special ballot will be thrown out so that it can be separately counted; also to provide means whereby if a voter attempts tovote for more than the proper number of candidates in any group or for;any oflice the registration of such part of the ballot will be prevented.

The invention includ s/novel, means for feeding the ballots to detectin and registering devices; novel means for individuall registering the votes cast for each can idate; novel means for preventing the operating of the counting mechanism if the of voting for a candidate whose name is ballot is a special ballot; and novel means for preventing the registration of an improper number of votes for any ofiice on any one ballot. Other novel features and means Will be hereinafter pointed out.

I will explain the invention withreferenoe to the accompanying drawings which illustrateso much of a ballot feeding registering a 11d counting mechanism capable of accomplishing the aforesaid objects, as will enable others to construct and use the invention; I refer to the claims for summaries of-the essential features of the invention and of the novel constructions and novel combinations of parts, for all of which protection is desired.

- In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevationof the upper left hand portion of the machine with the easmg removed to show the operating parts. Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section of the upper right hand end of the machine containing the mechanism for delivermg the ballots to be registered to the mech- 'anism shown in Fig. 1. This figure should i'ng mechanism. Fig. 3 should be placed be- .neath and read in connection with Figs. 1

and 2, the-three fi res 1, 2 and 3 together forming substantia 1y 8. complete side elevation of the entire machine.

Fig. 4 is an end view of Fig. 2 partly insection and partly broken away. Fig. 5' is a sectional view partly broken away on lines 5-5, Fig. 3 with pump removed. I

Fig. 6 is a sectional end elevation of Fig. 1 on line 6-6, Fig.1, with the ri ht hand end bearin frame 6 plate remov and the delivery ta 1e and some minor parts shown in section.

Fig. 7 is a section, on line 77,'Fig. 3.

Fig. 8.is a detail of the detector pin op erating mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of'the ballot delivery feed and'devices indicating them advancing .to.theleft.

' Fig. 10 is a detail view like Fig. 9 partly in section, indicating the parts moving to 105 the'right.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the ballot picker.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged plan view of the interlockin devices which revent the counting 0 improperly voted llots.

Fig. 13 is an additional Sectional view practically on'line 13-43, Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a detail section on the line 14.-14.- Fig. 12. a

Fig. 15 is an enlarged deal view er the ballot side adjusting shoe and circuit breaker.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view on line 16-16, Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged detail view of the ballot shunting devices;

Fig. 18 is a detail view of part of a ballot.

The various operative mechanismspf the machine may be mounted upon or in any suitable frame or case. Preferably I make the supporting'frame of metal tubing 'for' the purpose of lightness, and enclose the registering mechanisms in a suitable housing mounted on such frame so that they cannot be tampered .withduring the registering of the ballots by the mechanism,- which after being voted are automatically fed one by one from 'a feed box to the registering mechanism and then discharged therefrom.

The ballot feed bow.

In the articular embodiment of the invention s own in the drawings the voted ballots are placed in a hopper or feed box project be ond the inner (Figs. 2-4) having a bottom plate 5 and sides 5 connected y a rear bar 5. Within this feed box operates a follower or feed plate 5" which .isshown. as connected toda slotted rod 5 that extends through a 5 attached. to the bar 5', and a weig t 5 is connected by a cord 5 to the outer end of the rod 5 and runs over a ulley 5' attached to the guide 5, so that t e weight causes the follower 5 to move the ballots along in the bcx towards the discharge end thereof until she innermost ballot 1s,ar rested by stops 5 attached to,the sides of the box.

In the bottom of the feed box are guides 5", the forward ends 5? of whichfi end of the box and are. curv downwardly toward the topsurface of the feed table 1 on which the ballots sired position on the trunnions and isheld in adjusted position by means of the bolts that fasten the rests 5: which bolts pass through the box sides 5 and throu h the guide plates 5. -Guides 5 are attac ed to the table l by tongues 5 andpreventthe ballots from working sidewise' on the table 1.

The pnewmatvk' ballot feeder.

The ballots are preferably taken one at a time from the feed box and laid onto the feed table 1 by means of suction devices; which as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 11 consists of an oscillating sheet picker comprising a tube 4; (shown enlarged in Fig. 11) having a plurality of openings 4", with some of which are connected screw nipples 4, to which may be attached rubber suction cups 4, that may be secured to the nipples by split clamps 4 or other suitable means. 'As many of these suction cups 4 "are attached tothe tube as desired; and any of the holes 4 to which no nipples are attached can be closed by removable screw plugs 4. (Fig. 11).

The tube 4 is mounted on the outer end of a lever 4 which'is pivoted on a bearing 4 attached to table 1 (Figs.,2-4=) and lever- 4 can be swung on its pivot 4 by means of a pitman 4 hav' one end pivotall connected at 4" with t e lever 4 (Fig. 2 and its lower end connected to a lever 4, which is pivoted on a cross shaft 24, in the main frame, or other suitable support. (See Fig.

3). Lever 4 carries a pin which is adapted to be engaged by a cam 4 attached to a disk 24 on a shaft 17 mounted in suitable bearings in 'the'base of the machine (Figs. 3-5) and for each rotation of the shaft 17 the lever 4 is raised and lowered to cause the .osoillation of the picker-4 at proper times from the position shownin dotted lines in Fig. 2 to the position shown in full lines .therein; and at each such operation the 'icker will remove a ballot 13 from the v ox and la the same upon the feed table .1. The tu e 4 may be connected with suitable vacuum apparatus.

has a piston connected by a rod 17 to a crank pin 17 on the disk 24 on shaft 17. The I shaft 4 may be adjusted in length by a turn buckle 4 to regulate the throw of the picker 4" so that it will have just the proper movement to cause the suction picker to properly separate and .feed the ballots The cam 4 causes the upward throw of the pickor and the downward movement thereof is caused by a spring 4 connected to the lever.

To regulate the suction" pressure in the picker it may be provided at one end (Fig. 11) with a relief valve'l mounted in a casany p The vacuum may be produced at" lihe proper time in the picker tube 4 by means of an ordinary pump 1'? (Fig. 3)v which swam spring 4' interposed tween a nut 4' on the.

outer end of the valve stem and the casing 4. The vacuum pum tends to suck the] valve inward and if t e vacuum'pressur'e becomes too great such valve will open suf ficiently to relieve the pressure, whlch may thus be regulated to a nicety regardless of the variation in the suction produced by the reeiprocatory movement of the piston in the pum 17.

Attached to the side plates 5 in advance of the stops 5' are stri per blades 5 (Figs. 2-4),and if a second ballot should (either through electrical attraction or suction), ad: here to the rear of the ballot 13 being removed .from the box by the picker, the stripper plates would detach such secondballot from the ballot engaged by the picker and thus the strippers 5 prevent two' or more ballots being laid at any one time onto the feed table 1 by the icker. If a second ballot should be move forward with the ballot engaged by the. picker. the strippers 5 will arrest it and such ballot will rest upon the forward curved ends 5 of the tracks 59 and when the picker returns to pick up another ballot it willengage such detached ballot and move it back against the-pile of ballots and properly grasp it and lower it upon the feed table at the next forward movement of the picker.

Means for feeding the ballot to the registerz'ng devices.

From the feed table 1 the ballot is moved forward into position for operation upon by the detecting and registering mechanisms by suitable means. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4 a slide '3 is mounted between guides 1 riveted to table 1 with a spacer 1' therebetween (see Figs. 9-10). This feed slide 3 is recessed in its upper side and throu h this recess extends a rod 3 which may be pinned to the slide; and on this rod is slidably mounted a finger 3 which projects above the-slide and the top of the table or plate 1 and is adapted to engage the rear edge of the ballot after,same has been laid on the table by the picker.

The finger 3 is normally held at the front end of. .the slide by means of. a spring 3 strung on a 'rod 3 between the finger and the rear endof the slot in the slide. This lug 3 on the base plate-1} (Figs. 3 and 5).

The lever 3 is connected near its'lower end a b a pitman 3 to a crank 3 on the shaft 17. e pitman3' may be adjustably engaged with the lever 3 to regulate the extent of its movement as by means of holes in the lever,

indicated in Fig. 3: and the pitman 3 maybe adjusted .in length by means of a turn buckle 3 (Fig. 3.) By this. means the throw imparted to the feed slide 3 by the lever and crank can be nicely regulated so as to insure that the ballots will-be moved accurately from the feed table 1 into position beneath the detecting 'pins.

I Means for ejecting registered ballots.

The feed slide 3 is also utilized operate the means for ejecting :theballots from the registering mechanism after the same have been re istered. For this purpose a discharge sli e '3 is alsomounted in the guides 1 in advance of the feed slide 3 and the discharge slide 3 has pivoted on its front end a lever having a finger 3 on its u perend, which finger in one position of t e lever will project 'above. the feed 1 3 to project above the feed table (as in Fig. 9), and then moves the slide 3 forwardly with the slide 3. On the rearward movement of the slide 3 the lever 3 first pulls the lever 3 backward to lower the 'finger .3 (as in Fig. 10), and then moves the slide 3}, backward with slide 3.

In this manner a ballot 13 maybe first moved from the-position on-the feed table shown in fulllines in 2 and at,13 in Fig. 9' to the position shown in 13 1: in 'Fig. 9, (which position 13 is assumed to be the position of the ballot when being operated on by. the detecting and registering devices). But on the next forward stroke of the slide 3 the finger 3 will engage the edge of the ballot lying in position 13* (Fig. 9) and move the ballot to theposition 13f (Fig. 9) which finger 3 moves-the receding ballot from position 13 .out rom the registering mechanisms: and on the return movement of the slide 3' the finger 3 will pass beneath the ballot lying in position 13" beneath the registering mechanism.

Registering mechanism.

As stated, this machine is" designed to count ballots such as shown in my Patent No. 1,350,914. A part done of these ballots is shown in Fig. 18. This ballot 13" has spaces S for the names of the candidates and the voter who desires to register a vote the ballot at defined points.

' be registered in the registering mechanism. Each ballot 13 is also provided with an "columns of detector pins For this purpose a special detecting\p alining groove or notch 13 in one side which is adapted to engage a guide rib 5" in the bottom of the ballot feed box (Figs.

.2 and 4) ,accurately positioning the ballots in the feed box.

The machine shown is adapted -\to register ballots having five parallel columns of spaces S (Fig. 6) and 20 'spaces'in'each column (Fig. 1) and for this purpose the registering mechanism is provided with five as indicated in Fig. 6, and with. twenty detector pins 7* in each column, as indicated in Fig. 1; Fig.

6, showing an end elevation, and Fig. 1 a side elevation of the detector .and registering'mechanisms.

In some, instances where a voter changes the ballot by writing in a name in order to vote for a personal candidate whose name does not appear upon the re lar ballot, he will make an additional'per oration on the ballot indicated ail-13, Fig. 18, and where such .a special ballot is voted; I provide means for detecting this ballot and throwing it out of the mechanismwithout registering same, as it must be counted separately. in 10 is provided (see Fig. 1) and cooperatlng devices hereinafter referred to. 1

The detector pins 7 are arranged parallel in a suitable casing in one side of the feed plate--1and just above the level of said,

plate .and the casing is supported in such positlon that ballots 13 may be successively moved from plate 1 into posit-ion beneath the detector pins and registering mechanlsm as indicated in Figs. 1 and 6. As shown the detector pins 7 are guided'in suitable openings. in bottom bars or plates 2" and in top bars 6?, b which they are held in vertical parallel a inement.

Beside each longitudinal row of pins 7" is mouhteda rock shaft 9, suitably journalled in hearings in the frame; and each shaft9 has at; one end an arm 9 (Figs. 1 and which is pi'votally connected to 'a' bar 9h ar 9" is connected-by a link 9' (see Fig. -8) to the upper end of a lever 9 ivoted on a bracket 9 suitably mounte on the frame 1'. This "lever 9 is connected at its lower end by a link 9 to a slide '9 carrying a roller 9! which engages a race 9in a cam 9 loosely mounted on a shaft 18 (Fig. 7 but clutched to the shaft as hereinafter explained, so as to cause the lever 9 to rock the shafts 9 simultaneously at the proper .time to cause the detector pins to operate upon the ballot positioned .therebeneath. The link 9 maybe adjustably engaged with :the lower end of the lever 9*, which is shown in Fig. 7, provided with a plurality of holes 9 with any one of which lever 9 may be engaged. Any other suitable adjusting means maybe provided.

On the shaft 9 adjacent each detector pin 7 .is a cam member 9 which has a long tooth 9 (Fig. 6) that engages a pin or lug 7 on-the relate'd detector pin 7; each cam member 9 is yieldingly connected with its shaft 9 by means of a coiled spring 9 (Figs.

1 6) one end of which may be engaged with a'ke slot in the shaft 9. carrying the cam mem er, and the other end of which is connected with a perforation in the cam'member. As shown, each cam member 9 may be provided 'with a series of perforations 9 with which the end of the spring 9 may be engaged, so as to impart greater-pr less tension to the spring. Each cam member has a limited rotary movement on its shaft for a purpose hereinafter explained. To permit this each cam member is provided with an arc-sha ed slot 9 which engages a key 9 on its s aft 9; and the spring 9 normally holds the cam member with one end of its slot9 against the key 9*, as indicated in 6. ach detector pin 7 is free to move down- "ward by gravity, and is preferably provided with a weight 7 to facilitate its descent, but

each pin is normally upheld-by the tooth 9 ofthe related cam member 9 (Fi 6) engaging the under side of the lugs on the etector 1118 until the shafts 9 are rocked to the rig t by the actiozr of the cam 9 and lever 9 as above explained."

When shafts 9 are rocked to the right (Fig. 6) the came 9 permit the detector pins to lower onto the ballot underlying the same. If any detector pin 7 is arrested by contacting with an imperfonateportion of" the ballot 13, a shorter tooth' 9") on therelated cam member will not engage the lug 7 on th'edetector pin, but will pass under same leaving this detector pin resting on the ballot and out of action, therefore not registering.

If any detector pin 7' findsa erforationv p in the ballot" it can pass throng such erforation in the ballot until it is arrests by striking the top. of one of the interlocking pins '14: hereinafter referred to. A detector pin which is arrested by contact with can imperforate portion of the card does not register, but a pin which finds a perforation in the ballot will be further depressed by the tooth 9 of the related cam member anrect), as hereinafter explained, and also oppawlsS". I back on the return strokes of the detector pins and the pawls 8 merely prevent the crate the related register. Each detector 'pin is shown as provided on its upper end with a pivoted pawl 7 d (see ri ht hand upper end of Fig. 6) which when t edetector pin is depressed by the action of the tooth 9 of its-related cam 9 is adapted to engage the ratchet 8 of a related re ister 8, one of which is mounted adjacent t e upper end of each detector pin 7* in such position that the pawl 7 d of such detector in will engage the ratchet 8 of its related register, and move it one point when it is operated by the tooth 9 of the related cam member.

This can only occur in case such detector pinfinds a perforation in the ballot On the rise of the detectorpinsbackward movement of the registers is prevented by The pawls 7 are free to spring counters turning backward.

-I do not herein claim the particular construction ofthe registers 8 as these are well known and therefore I have not illustrated same in detail. There should be a detector pin for each candidate on the ballot and one registering device 8 provided for each detector pin; and each time a detector pin finds a perforation in the ballot a vote is registered b the proper mechanism for the candidate a jacent whose name the perforation appears. i

If the detector-pins should become locked and not move down under the pressure of the second arm; 9 of the cam-member 9*, the shaft 9 will continue to make its full movement, the key 9 having room inke slot 9 in the, cam-member to move bac without engaging the cam-member. As one end of the spring 9 is affixed to this shaft 9 and the other end is affixed to the cam member, the movement ofthe shaft will be against the resistance of this spring and in turn the resistance of this spring is against the resistance of; the inter ocking pm 14 (hereinafter-referred to). In other words the down strokeof the cam-member 9 is yieldingly pulled by the spring and the motion of shaft 9;.1and the up stroke of the cam-member 9%is causedbyithe key engaging the end'o-f seat 9%.

All the cam-members ,Q E werk simultaneously, as do all the detector pins 7, therefore allholes (or votes) in the ballot are detected simultaneously by the pins 7.

i system. I If a votershdu ldj improperly punch th system 0 -with each detector pin 7. These pended from'plate 15 by bolts 15 ballot for more than the proper number of candidates in any group, (as for example, aldermen, councilmen, etc., where a plurality of candidates are to be voted for) such action would invalidate his vote for any of the candidates in such group, and it is therefore necessary to prevent the registering of the votes of any of the candidates 'in such group.

Arranged directly beneath the s stem of detector gains 7* above described 18 a like interlocking devices, one for each pin 7". These interlocking devices are mounted upon a plate 15. (Figs. 6-12), which is supported and slidably mounted in grooved bars 15' attached to the framin 1 (see Fig. 6) so'that when desired this p ate with the interlocking devices can be slid out to one side of the machine for convenience in setting up the interlocking devices in accordance with the nature of the ballot which is to be registered.

The interlocking devices consist of pins 14" which are connected with the late 15, and there is one pin 14 under an in line ins 14- are free to work up and down and swivel in their bearin s,-and are normally pressed upward by springs 14 interposed between arms 14 on the pins and a plated? s11?- Attached to each pin.14 above and below the plate 15 are arms 14 which are in line with each other and have recesses in their opposed ends in which recesses are secured the ends of the interlocking blades 14. glsee Figs. 13-14). These blades 14 pass t rough longitudmal slots 15 in the plate 15 (see Figs. 12, 13,14) and can move freely and down in such slots and may also move 14 (Fi 14). The rollers are confined in the gui es by' top plates 15. Each blade 14 has its lower'portion reduced between" the rollers 15' and 15, and each blade has a cam surface 14 adapted to engage the ad jacent roller.

Between the blades 14 in each slot 15 are'placed rollers 15 or 15. I prefer to use rollers between the blades, but other suitable forms of intermediate members ma be used. The roljlers15';are;of uniform iameter (Figs. 13-14) whilethe rollers 15 have their central portions reduced in diameter (Figs. 13-14). The rollers 15 or 15 are laced between the reduced ortions of adacent blades l4" in accor ance with the number of candidates to be voted for in the different groups on the re 'lar ballot. Where the rollers 15' are pl between blades 14 the pins 14 cannot be depressed; but where the rollersare placed the pins 14 can be de ressed.

' ese' rollers 15and 15 are placed between the blades 14, (Fig. 14) so that when a blade is forced down between them it will move them either way as shown in the dotted lines. In the sides of the roller race 15' are slots 15 in which stops or locks 15' may be inserted as shown in Figs. 12-14. These stops may be inserted between any of the blades 14", and wherever inserted they up ofi a number of blades and make them Independent of the rest, since the stops 15 extend across the roller race as shown'in Fi 13. f

he groups of'blades are made to conform to the groups of candidates for the different oflices on the ballot. In setting up the interlocking devices for o eration a roller 15 should be placed Lbesi e blade 14 for each candidate to be voted for in a group, and a solid roller 15 will be placed beside all the rest of such blades 14 as are connected with the pins 14 that correspond with pins 7 related to the voting spaces on the ballot.

Removing one 15 roller and substituting a roller 15 will allow one bladei'i'n'the group to pass.

blades to pass.

Referring to Fig. 14, assume that rollers 15 repres nt the number of candidates to be voted fr; and the pins 14*:represent the number of candidates running for the oflice, there being eight candidates running forthe ofiice, but only two can be elected. Since all the ins 7 work simultaneously if there shou d be more holes punched in the ballot than two, when the pines 7 B were lowered all the blades 14 Fi 14) would look between the locks 15 and t e rollers 15 and 15', and

would thusprevent pins 7 making their full down stroke to the counters, and therefore no votes would beregistered for any; in this P- r r Transfer arms'14 (Figs. 12 and 13) may be afixed to the top of any arms 14 ,so that a group of blades 14 may be made u of blades in two or more rows intermediate their ends; the arms are detachable. The

transfer a'rms'14 are ermanently afiixed'at the ends of the rows 0 blades 14 ancltransfer the motion from one row to v,the sueceed- .ingone and maybe adjusted"'to take up wean by screws 1421 All the blades can be tied together by these transfer arms 14 to make one large grou or may be segregated into smallen groupsv y inserting stops 15 at the proper 126111135. The inter king system elimmates the ne--.

, cessity for'hand inspection of the ballots before placin them in the machine. The interchan eab e members between the interlocking lades, whichmay move freely with Substituting two 15' rollers-mplace of two rollers 15 will allow two.

1 for in a body.

inserting stops.

The blades 14 can move in and out in the;

recesses in the arms 14", their distance from their pins 14 varying according to their movements along the slots 15. The recesses keep the blades upright whilethey move between the rollers, so that they do not tip, which might cause mis-counting.

, After the bevels' 14 bf the blades pass down between the rollers the upper straight portions of the blades will maintain them 1n proper relative positions laterally. If one. "blade lowers -a little more than another it v will make no'difl'erence.

The interlocking permanent transfer arms 14 placed at the. ends of the rows (Fig. v12) will transfer motion from one row of interlocking pins to another. This enables me to make use of two or more rows of'pins 14 for one large group of candidates, which is frequently necessary when a large number of candidates are to be voted The arms 14 are permanently set up against the outside blades 14 in the rows so that any motion in one row is transferred to the other.

It is sometimes desirable to be able to set up the interlockin system so that the motion can be transierred from pins in one row to ins in an adjacent row intermediate the on s of the rows. For this purpose small lugs 14 may be formed on the backs on the arms 14 (see Fig. 13) to which lugs can be attached arms 14 which extend across to the adjacent row and contact with the arms 14 of the pins in such row and transfer motion thereto (see Fig. 13). This enables me to usethe head pins in all the rows for one grou (as in presidential elections) and to use t e balance of the rows for other candidates.

The bumper plate 15 under the interlocking pinshas two functions; one to loosen any interlocking pins which may stick, the other to prevent any pin going down ahead of the others from getting stuck: the :plate oe's down with the detector pins and there is about 1/64th of an inch space between the plate and'the bottom of the interlocking pins, which prevents one pindropping too far ahead of another.

. The'entire interlocking system slides from under. the machine so that same can be gotten at for. setting up before election, which is important, as the system could not be readily set up under the machine. The interlocking device may be adjusted to conform to the difierent ballots in the difierent wards in cases where the ballots of difierent wardsvary.

It will be seen that the detector pins detect the ballot before touching the interlocking system. The detecting and inter,- locking are separate and distinct operations. Very little weight or ressure is required for detecting and any esired force can be applied to the interlocking mechanisms.

Suspended from-the late 15 are rods 15 on which is hung the Bullet plate 15' that lies below the lower ends of the interlocking pins 14 and is supported by springs 15", (Figs. 1 and 6). This buffer plate is connected by a link 15 to one end of a lever 15 pivoted at 15", Fi 7, on a bracket 15, and the other end 0 this lever carries a roller 15 engaging a cam 15* on the shaft 18. This bumper plate is lowered out of the wayof the pins 14. at the proper time, and is then raised so as to loosen and elevate any of! the interlocking lates 14 which might have stuck between t e rollers.

' Individual special ballot throw -Out.

In some cases the'voter instead of voting for a candidate whose name appears on the ballot may wish to vote for a special candidate. In this case he writes the name in the proper blank space in the ballot and makes it'operates mechanism for discharging suchballot into. a separate receiver, so that the votes for s ecial candidates, can afterwards be counted y hand.

The pin 1O has a pin 11 which is adapted to be engaged by a cam member 11 mounted on the, adjacent shaft 9, which cam member is constructed and operated similarly to the cam members 9 for actuating the pins 7 above described, and if the hole 13' be punched, in, the.-..ballot,. pin 10 Fig. 17) will pass tlirou h'the ballot as in icated in dotted lines in ig. 1 7, and enga e a trigger 12 and force the latter down. 7 he trigger 12*, Figs. 1 and 17 is pivoted on a lug 12 and-hasv an arn'r12 w ich is connected by a link 12 toa'n arm 12 of a lever pivoted on a bracket-12 on the frame; an arm 12 of this lever is pivotally connected to one end of a link 12?, the other end of which is pivotally connected at 12 to the discharge.

chute 12.

When pin 10 engages the trigger 12 it'is depressed (in the same manner that the pins 7 are depressed when they find holes in the ballot) and this rocks tri ger 12 and causes the lever arm 12 and 12* to raise the discharge chute 12 up from its normal position (shown in full knee in Figs. 1 and 17 to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 17, and hold it in this position until the special ballot is dis- ,full lines (Fig. 17 thus returning parts 12*, 12", 12 and the feed chute 12 to the positions shown in full linesin Fig. 17,

The parts 12, 12 virtually form a toggle and when thrown into the osition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 17, nection passes the center of the toggle and thus holds the chute raised until the toggley is broken by the fin er 12 being struck the finger 3", which nooks the toggle joint back past the center, and the discharge chute then falls by gravity allowing the succeeding ballots to pass thereinto until another special ballot is detected.

Means for posz'tz'mu'ng the ballots late-rally.

As, the ballots are advanced bythe feed slide 3 underneath the registerin mechanism they are positioned laterally y means of devices shown in Figs. 1, 15 and 16.

Mounted at one side of the path of the ballot upon the plate2 is a short lever 16 pivoted on a pin 16, and provided with a spring 16 adapted to swing the lever inwardly. The tension of this spring can be varied by engaging it with different holes 16 in the lever 16*.

Depending from this lever is a cam shoe 16 which "depends through an opening 2 in the plate 2, Figs. 15 and 16, andlies in the path of the ballot so that the edge of the ballot which (passes along the dotted line a: in Fig. 15 woul the lever 16 outward against the tension of the spring 16. Lever 16;. carries a contact pin 16 which is adapted, when the lever is in normal position and not engaged by the ballot, to make electrical connection with an opposed contact 16 mounted in a support 16 on the plate 2, see Figs. 15 and 16.

engage the shoe 1'6 and swing eir pivot con-' The contacts 16, 16, make or break an electrical circuit whereby the machine is enabled to perform one cycle of operation whenever a ballot is placed beneath the registering mechanims, as hereinafter explained.-

The-shoe 16 depends below the surface 1 on which the ballot lies so that there will be 4 no danger of the edge of the ballot. passing Electrical control device.

All the detectors receive their motion from cam 9 on shaft 18; cam 9 is loose on shaft 18 but may be locked thereto by a clutch 16"; this is a one jaw clutch, and when disengaged shaft 18 must make a complete revolution before it can re-en'gage; this prevents cam 9 from getting out of time. Clutch 16" is splined on shaft 18, and may slide back and forth on said shaft, and it is operated to disengage cam 9 by a magnet 16 (Figs.

A clutch lever 16 is pivoted on support 16 and has one end engaged with the clutch 16 and the other is engaged with the magnet core 16, so that when magnet l6 is engaged the core will operate lever 16 'and disengage-clutch 16 from cam 9 and the cam will stop and the detector pins 7 will notbe operated if no ballot is presented under the detector pins.

- I preferably control the electric current by the presence of a ballotunder the detector pins, so that the latter will always beoperated when a ballot is present; therefore I control the current by the shoe 16 (Figs. 15 and 16) As described, said pressure shoe lies in the way of the edge of the ballot so that when the ballot is moved forward under the detector pins, it engages and forces the shoe 16 back, thus breaking the circuit: and this permits the cam 9 to continue to operate; but if no ballot is presented the shoe remains in normal-position .and the circuit remains closed and therefore the magnet will operate and stop cam 9.

It is also necessary to so time the passage and duration of the electric current that the cam 9 will not be stopped in the inter- {vals between successive ballots-. The normal space between two successive ballots is indicated, in Fig. 9. When the machine is operating normally there is space enough between. two successive ballots'to allow the shoe 16 to spring in for .an instant in the space between two successive ballots and make the contacts to close the circuit conthe body rotates. An electric conductor 16 is connected to brush 16, andwith the contact 16 'on shoe 16", and another conductor 16' is connected with brush 16" and with magnet 16 and from these to a lamp socket (not shown) and a conductor 16 connects the pressure shoe (Fig. 15) tothe lamp socket (not shown).

When both brushes 16-and 16 contact with the plate 16 on timer 16 the circuit is closed and if no ballot is present under the detectors clutch 16 disengages cam 9. The circuit is broken by timer 16 in the interval of time between one ballot leaving and the next reaching the shoe,in other words it makes. the contact at the time the'shoe is engaged with the edge of one ballot and" breaks it just before such ballot clears the shoe. In this way the operation oft-he detector pins is under the control of the ballotsand the timer controls the time of operation of the clutch.

The/machine frame may be provided with rollers 1 at the dischargeend, so it can be conveniently nfi ved, and it may be operated by any suitable means. As shown the mechanisms are driven by a motor '20 (Figs. 3 and 7) having a shaft 20- carrying a pinion 20* meshing with an intermediate gear'19, on an intermediate shaft 19,,carrying apinion 19 meshing with a gear which is loose on a shaft 18, but is driven'therewith by means of a friction clutch 18 which is adapted to yield in case anything goes wrong with the machine and the-parts stick.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 6, 6 isaglass top for readin the counters 8.

Cam shaft 1 may be extended out at one side and provided with a hand wheel 17 so that it can be operated by hand power if necessary Operation. After the poles close, the voted ballots are placed in the ballot feed box (Figs:

2-4), between follower 5 and the ballot sto s 5. The ballot alinement tongue 5 which engages the notches 13" in the ballots 'is then forced into the vacuum chamber of the picker 4* and loosens the ballot from the vacuum cups 4. The feed head finger 3 is advanced over the end of the ballot before the vacuum is broken, and prevents the ballot from flying up. The ballot now rests on bed plate 1 The feed slide and finger 3 then move the ballot along on the table 1 into the space between the plates 1 and 2* (Figs. 1-6-16) which space is just large enough to admit the ballot, and as the ballot is brought into the correct position longitudinally beneath the set of detector pins, it is also positioned correctly laterally by the action of the cam shoe 16", as above described, so thatit is placed in exact position for registering any perforations in the ballot with the. related detector pins 7.

As the ballot is thus moved beneath the detector pins its edge engaging the cam shoe 16 moves the latter-and breaks the circuit between the points 16* and 16 (Fig. 15)

- and therefore the cam 9, which controls the operation of the detector pins, remains in engagement with the shaft; and consequently at the proper time lever 9 is operated to lower the detector pins 7* and 10 simul taneously onto the ballot. Each detector pin that finds a hole in the ballot will pass through'the ballot and rest upon the related interlocking pin 14 (Figs. 1-6); and such dropped detector pins will be further depressed by the operation of the tooth 9 on the cam member 9, as above described as to forcibly depress the related interlocking pins; (provided there has been no improper perforation of the ballot) as above described.

The detector pins are then raised by the continued movement of the cam 9 through one cycle or rotation and after the detector ins have cleared the ballot which has just ldeen registered, it is ejected from beneath the detector pins by the action of the ejector 3", as above described, and simultaneously with the feeding forward into registering position of the next successive ballot by the feed slide 3; which during-the time the preceding ballot was being registered is retracted into position to engage the succeeding ballot; and during whichtime the icker 4" is operated to take another ballot mm the box and lay it upon the table 1".

Each detector pin 7% wh'ch has found a erforation in a ballot and is de ressed y cam member 9 as described registers a vote on the related registering device 8 for the candidate indicated.

In the mechanisms all the detector pins which find holes in the ballot are simultaneously operated, and the votes for each candidate properly punched on the ballots are simultaneously but separately registered.

During the registering operation the ejector 8 is retracted by the feed slide and 7 passes beneath the ballot in position on the registering mechanism.

If the ballot which is being registered should be a special ballot (having the name of a personal candidate inserted by the voter, and therefore havingra perforation 13 in its margin) the detector pin 1O would be depressed and cause the chute 12 to be raised into the position shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 17, so that such special ballot instead of being ejected into the chute 12 would be discharged beneath the chute into a separate receptacle as above explained. The regular ballots however are discharged into the chute.

1f the voter had improperly punched the ballot for more than the proper number of candidates in any group, such action would invalidate his vote for any of the candidates in such. group. In the event that such a ballot is presented beneath the detectin devices the detector pins 7* will find al the holes in the ballot for such group, and an improper number of detector pins will be lowered onto the interlocking pins 14-. of this group. But when the mechanisms start to depress the detector pins in this group the detector pins cannot be operated because the interlocklng pins of the group will prevent it, as the blades 14 for each group are so arranged that only the maximum number of candidates can be legally voted for at one time by any one voter, and if the voter attempts to vote for more than the proper number of candidates then the interlocking device prevents the operation.

Minor sub-operations and functions of different parts have been set forth above.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have rovided a complete machine where by particularly prepared ballots can be accurately and repeatedly counted and that such machine performs various novel func tions and accomplishes the desired ends and is successful and practical. I I do not consider the invention in its broader aspects restricted to the particular mechanisms shown, which could be modified or replaced by other mechanisms or elements adapted-to perform the like functions in substantially the same way. I therefore do not consider the invention restricted to the particular mechanisms, combinations and sub-combinations of parts, and constructions thereof, herein shown and described! and in the claims following I :have defined the invention both in its 

